"Knowing Reproach"
To know real reproach is not something most conventional people, especially believers, truly understand, not up close and personal anyway. And the main reasons for this is that the riches of this world tend to insulate us from such shame [as long as we are "in the loop"], and because of the false teaching of religion in general, but especially of the Church. Only the poor, the broken, and the oppressed know much about true reproach, and even those usually not in full understanding. Therefore the Lord made a point to bring this document, so that the people who are coming to Him are properly prepared to face this difficult challenge, designed to mold the human soul. He knows that because of the extent of Satan’s lies, most all people would end up shocked to discover firsthand the reproach that the Lord has suffered, an understanding He brings through sharing in experiences similar to His, which He intends for us this day.
One of Satan’s favorite methods of defeating us is by the manipulation of our fears, through reproach. He most often begins this process by enticing us into sin, like was the case with the adulteress of John 8. Once he has gotten us to fall into the specific sin he has chosen for us, he then attacks us with fiery blasts of terrible accusations, usually in front of many eyes, all to our great shame. John 8:4 is a perfect example for this discussion, because to be "caught in the very act" is to imply that the person is therefore naked; but at the very least, there she was in front of all, with her naked shame being told before everyone [which is what that symbol of nakedness means anyway].
This scene was foreshadowed perfectly by the prophetic display Noah fell into, before the eyes of his sons [Gen 18-29]. To drink of the cup of God’s wrath [ symbol: to get drunk, and become nakedly exposed] is to fall in sin. But, then Ham caught him "in the very act", and shamefully exposed him before the eyes of the others; this is not to mention that it also was his own father. This is the "seed" of Satan, his ways and doctrines, and not the ways of God. When Adam and Eve fell into sin, God made coverings for them to cover up their naked shame [Gen 3:21]; that is the way of God [Prov 11:13; Prov 17:9; Prov 25:2].
This difference is further brought out into the light, when Satan had Jesus crucified; he had His clothes taken away from Him, having Him hung up on the cross naked, before the eyes of all the people, to His great shame and reproach. { But, as you picture His shameful reproach [above and beyond His other pain and suffering], keep this thought in mind: He did no wrong to deserve this terrible reproach; but we did [Luke 23:41]}.
There are many reasons why Jesus went through that particular reproach, of being nakedly exposed before the eyes of all. One central reason is prophetic: we are the body of the Lord; so we must expect to also be nakedly exposed, to our great shame. That concept is further brought to light as God’s plan by the thief next to Jesus; he also was nakedly shamed before the eyes of all. God is clearly telling us that this is what to expect; reproach will come to us. Therefore expect it, and like that thief, stop complaining about the pain of that cross [Matt 27:44; Luke 23:39-41].
But, a secondary concept, and just as important to us in that dark hour, is that Jesus has already gone through that same shameful reproach Himself as we will; so He is fully compassionate to our struggle, as our Intercessor and High Priest.
Heb 4:15
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. NKJV™
The difference is that Jesus did not sin; but our reproach is up to another level of shame, in that we did sin, and in far worse ways than we previously understood; that will make our shame a little harder to face, because we truly are guilty, having denied our Lord to the very end [Matt 26:75], among other things.
Psalm 69 discusses the terrible reproach our Lord has endured in all this, throughout the years [Ps 69:7-20]. This time it is our turn, and that understanding, that this reproach will come on us, is required as part of this vow. Psalm 44:9-22 discusses how it was supposed to be, and even now will be to an extent. Yet, what will be different about this day, and the reproach we must endure, is brought to light in several other passages throughout Scriptures, and foreshadowed in these two verses of that Psalm:
Ps 44:20-21
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God,
Or stretched out our hands to a foreign god,
21 Would not God search this out?
For He knows the secrets of the heart. NKJV™
I say foreshadowed because from the very beginning, and contrary to popular teaching today, we have always been a people who did stretch out our hands to a foreign god, from the day we chose Satan’s words over God’s commands, as recorded in Genesis 3 {prophetic also (Eccl 1:9)}. All his may seem like an impossibility to most believers, in view of how long we have believed the lie, that we have done the commands of our Lord [1 Sam 15:13]. Believe whatever you wish; but at the very minimum be forewarned before taking this vow: Scriptures clearly instruct us that it is the plan of God that we must face this form of difficult reproach, in our guilt, which will end up being far more involved that we have previously understood. Our shame will later be forgotten; but only after we first face it nakedly this day.
Ezek 36:31-32
31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 Not for your sake do I do this," says the Lord God, "let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!" NKJV™
The command of our Lord, noted here in this summation of our condition today, is, "let it be known to you." Expect this to be part of the cost of your vow this day. This one part of our awakening will be completely opposite of where we have been for so long, as we daily hid from the truth of what we have done, ignoring our reality behind a screen of praise noise He will not hear from us for this moment in time [Ex 32:17]. Instead, this will be a day of somber reflection, of knowing the fullness of our shame, all the while the nations reproach us. It is one thing to be reproached for the sake of His name when we think we stand in righteousness; it is quite another when we stand before our Maker and anyone else He wills, fully knowing our guilt, being caught in the very act. So, I wonder if, in God’s powerful display, and the perfection of His Word, if that woman from John 8:4 was presented in naked shame before the Lord, (just like Adam and Eve essentially were), since she had just been caught in the very act [consider Ezek 16:39].
This is to be part of our journey this day; when we take this vow, expect your eyes to be opened to all this naked truth. We will finally be facing it for the first time; and then we will be free [John 8:32]. For the first time our reproach will truly be more Christ-like: He too was hung out before the eyes of all, in naked shame, because the people had taken away His clothing [Luke 23:34]. The difference between us and our Lord, though, is that He hung in naked shame even though He did no wrong; for the first time our reproach will be knowing our shame [Ezek 16:63].
Our vow to Him then will be that we will genuinely make every effort to go, and sin no more [John 8:11], always turning back to Him for help, each step of the way, stand or fall [Rom 14:4]. It can come in many forms, be it poverty, physical stature and/or afflictions, dreadful sins [consider Dan 11:35; Ps 51], friends and family becoming our enemies [Matt 10:34-38], anything He chooses [2 Sam 10:4]. All this information may seem to be more than can be grasped at this point, before the studies expose it in detail; but, we must be warned ahead of the vow, that this will be part of God’s plan for us in this day, even if we may not yet see how.
It is important to remember throughout this difficult passage to come, that God always uses such trials for our good, because that is the kind of Father He is: good to His sons and daughters. Nebuchadnezzar was wise enough to understand that truth, being the great king he was. So, when His extremely difficult passage was completed, he could scarcely hold back the flood of praise to God exuding from his mouth; he literally had to tell the whole world [Dan 4:1-3].
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